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Even Hanako the Elephant Bathed Here! Discover the Charms of Kunai Onsen, a Historic Hot Spring in Shimamaki Village
Shimamaki Village is located in the southwestern part of Hokkaido. There, you'll find a famous hot spring that an elephant is said to have visited for therapeutic bathing. It's called Kunai Onsen. Let's unravel its history while enjoying the hot spring and find out how this came to be.
Kunai Onsen has a long history, said to have been discovered during the Ansei era of the Edo period (1850s). According to the village history of Shimamaki, it all started when someone happened to see a bear soaking in a hot spring pool. Kunai Onsen officially opened in 1945.
On November 10, 1971, an elephant named Hanako arrived at Kunai Onsen on the back of a truck. Hanako was originally kept at Asahiyama Zoo, but she was suffering from rickets, which made it difficult for her to even walk. After a series of twists and turns, she ended up in Shimamaki Village.
A special prefabricated hut was built for Hanako, and her therapeutic bathing life continued for five years. Afterward, as her condition improved, she reportedly set off for the warmer main island of Honshu. An onsen that can even heal a large elephant like her—doesn't that make you curious?
The water quality is a sodium bicarbonate and sulfate spring. It is colorless and transparent, with red mineral deposits (yunohana) settled at the bottom of the tub. The water is 100% free-flowing from the source, pouring into the bathtub through an outdoor pipe. The source temperature is originally around 48 degrees Celsius, and it seems the temperature is regulated solely by adjusting the volume of water flow.
The expansive countryside view from the open-air bath provides an unparalleled sense of freedom. While you can certainly enjoy it on a day trip, staying overnight at Kunai Onsen is also highly recommended.
This is because the rice served at Kunai Onsen is a bit special. It's a brand called "Kunai Onsen Mai Yumepirika," a type of rice grown using hot spring water in the paddies! Its moderate stickiness and subtle sweetness are sure to get you hooked.
Be sure to stay overnight to fully enjoy the historic hot spring and the delicious rice.
*If you want to get a better feel for the atmosphere of Kunai Onsen, please check out our YouTube channel, "Howatto Yumeguri Hokkaido"!
＜Kunai Onsen＞
Location: 431 Tomari, Shimamaki-mura, Shimamaki-gun, Hokkaido
Phone: 0136-75-6320
Official Website: https://guunaionsen.jimdofree.com/
Kunai Onsen has a long history, said to have been discovered during the Ansei era of the Edo period (1850s). According to the village history of Shimamaki, it all started when someone happened to see a bear soaking in a hot spring pool. Kunai Onsen officially opened in 1945.
On November 10, 1971, an elephant named Hanako arrived at Kunai Onsen on the back of a truck. Hanako was originally kept at Asahiyama Zoo, but she was suffering from rickets, which made it difficult for her to even walk. After a series of twists and turns, she ended up in Shimamaki Village.
A special prefabricated hut was built for Hanako, and her therapeutic bathing life continued for five years. Afterward, as her condition improved, she reportedly set off for the warmer main island of Honshu. An onsen that can even heal a large elephant like her—doesn't that make you curious?
The water quality is a sodium bicarbonate and sulfate spring. It is colorless and transparent, with red mineral deposits (yunohana) settled at the bottom of the tub. The water is 100% free-flowing from the source, pouring into the bathtub through an outdoor pipe. The source temperature is originally around 48 degrees Celsius, and it seems the temperature is regulated solely by adjusting the volume of water flow.
The expansive countryside view from the open-air bath provides an unparalleled sense of freedom. While you can certainly enjoy it on a day trip, staying overnight at Kunai Onsen is also highly recommended.
This is because the rice served at Kunai Onsen is a bit special. It's a brand called "Kunai Onsen Mai Yumepirika," a type of rice grown using hot spring water in the paddies! Its moderate stickiness and subtle sweetness are sure to get you hooked.
Be sure to stay overnight to fully enjoy the historic hot spring and the delicious rice.
*If you want to get a better feel for the atmosphere of Kunai Onsen, please check out our YouTube channel, "Howatto Yumeguri Hokkaido"!
＜Kunai Onsen＞
Location: 431 Tomari, Shimamaki-mura, Shimamaki-gun, Hokkaido
Phone: 0136-75-6320
Official Website: https://guunaionsen.jimdofree.com/
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Hokkaido Tourism Camera-Writer
Team Buchineko
We are "Team Buchineko," with many connections to tourist spots and facilities in Hokkaido. Even things that seem ordinary to us living in Hokkaido are wonderful resources. We will continue to share the charms of this wonderful Hokkaido.
